Jerome Horwitz
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jerome P. Horwitz is a globally renowned American scientist; his affiliations included the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the Wayne State University School of Medicine
and the Michigan Cancer Foundation.
.
Horwitz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
chemistry from the University of Detroit; his doctorate in
chemistry came from the University of Michigan
. Dr. Jerome P. Horwitz completed his
post-doctoral training at Northwestern University
and the
University of Michigan.
(AZT) - an antiviral drug
used to treat HIV
patients; Zidovudine was initially developed as a treatment for cancer. Horwitz was also first to synthesize stavudine
(d4T) and zalcitabine (ddC) - two other reverse transcriptase inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV patients.
After synthesizing AZT, Dr. Horwitz went on to create many successful treatments for cancer and other diseases. At the time of his most recent findings, Horwitz was working for the Michigan Cancer Foundation with a federal grant
from the National Institutes of Health
; he retired in 2005.
Wayne State University School of Medicine
The Wayne State University School of Medicine is the largest single-campus medical school in the United States with more than 1,000 medical students. In addition to undergraduate medical education, the school offers master’s degree, Ph.D., and M.D.-Ph.D. programs in 14 areas of basic science to...
and the Michigan Cancer Foundation.
Background
Dr. Horwitz is a Detroit native and 1937 graduate of Central High SchoolCentral High School (Detroit, Michigan)
Central High School is the oldest secondary school in Detroit, Michigan; it is staffed and operated by the Detroit Public Schools.-History:In 1858, Detroit's first high school opened on Miami Avenue. By 1863, due to increased enrollment, the school was moved to a building that had formerly housed...
.
Horwitz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
chemistry from the University of Detroit; his doctorate in
chemistry came from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Dr. Jerome P. Horwitz completed his
post-doctoral training at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and the
University of Michigan.
Clinical breakthroughs
In 1964, while conducting research for the Karmanos Institute, Dr. Horwitz synthesized a compound that was to become known as zidovudineZidovudine
Zidovudine or azidothymidine is a nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor , a type of antiretroviral drug used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is an analog of thymidine....
(AZT) - an antiviral drug
Antiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
used to treat HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
patients; Zidovudine was initially developed as a treatment for cancer. Horwitz was also first to synthesize stavudine
Stavudine
Stavudine is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor active against HIV.-History:...
(d4T) and zalcitabine (ddC) - two other reverse transcriptase inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV patients.
After synthesizing AZT, Dr. Horwitz went on to create many successful treatments for cancer and other diseases. At the time of his most recent findings, Horwitz was working for the Michigan Cancer Foundation with a federal grant
Federal grant
In the United States, federal grants are economic aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of...
from the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
; he retired in 2005.
Of further note
- Dr. Horwitz was featured in the documentary film I am alive today - History of an AIDS drug.
- While some believe Horwitz was referenced in the Captain Underpants books, it is more likely that the Jerome Horwitz Elementary School in the children's book series was in fact named after Curly HowardCurly HowardJerome Lester "Jerry" Horwitz , better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and vaudevillian. He is best known as a member of the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, along with his older brothers Moe Howard and Shemp Howard, and actor Larry Fine...
from the Three StoogesThree StoogesThe Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
. (Jerome Horwitz was Curly's given name.)